Le'Veon Bell is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy by missing tests, but he plans to appeal the ruling.

Bell said he plans to appeal the suspension "sometime in August" and that he was notified of a missed test and his suspension in March.

Mike Tomlin confirmed that Bell's appeal will not be heard until the second week of August.

"I don't want to be a distraction to my teammates or to Steelers Nation," Bell added. "So I'm just going to keep moving forward and let everything handle itself."

Antonio Brown will report to training camp Thursday, hopeful and confident his contract will be addressed before the start of the regular season, according to sources.

Brown made just $1 million in base salary last season when he caught 136 passes and is scheduled to make $6.25 million in 2016.

The wide receiver's camp is expected to ask the Pittsburgh Steelers to address his contract situation at some point.

Le'Veon Bell defended himself against a looming punishment for violation of the NFL's drug policy.

In response to a fan posting a picture on Instagram with a gas mask bong superimposed on Bell's head, Bell responded from his verified account: "I'm not going to miss games, trust me." This was not an official statement issued by Bell, whose agent, Adisa Bakari, has not responded to messages for comment.

Bell faces a four-game suspension for missed drug tests.

According to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, a player can miss up to two drug tests without forfeiting games, but a third missed test triggers a four-game ban. 

"I'm gonna win the appeal...ppl have no idea what happened, but don't worry...let em hate," Bell wrote directly to a fan. "When I end up missin no games at all, ppl for sure gonna try to love me again and I'm only ridin with my LOYAL fans!!"

Le'Veon Bell is facing a four-game suspension for violation of the NFL's drug policy, according to sources.

The suspension is the result of a missed drug test, not a failed one. The reason it hasn't yet been announced is that the appeal process is still going on.

Bell was suspended for the first three games of 2015, which was later reduced to two games, for a violation of the policy on substances of abuse after he was arrested for marijuana possession and DUI in the summer of 2014.

DeAngelo Williams admits that he has no sympathy for the New England Patriots, who will be without Tom Brady for the first four games of the season because of suspension.

"I am glad they got problems. I don't care," Williams said. "Everybody has their problems, and I am glad they have theirs."

Brady decided last week to end his year-long fight against his four-game suspension handed down as part of the punishment stemming from Deflategate.

James Harrison has denied allegations of using performance enhancing drugs.

Harrison, one of four active players the NFL plans to interview as part of its investigation into the PED allegations, stated in the affidavit obtained Tuesday by NFL Media's Mike Garafolo that he never met or had communication with Charles Sly, the intern pharmacist who told Al Jazeera America he supplied Harrison with PEDs.

"As a professional athlete, I have met thousands of people during my career," Harrison wrote in the affidavit, "but to the best of my knowledge and recollection, I have never met with the individual who is apparently named Charles Sly..."

Le'Veon Bell says he's on schedule to be ready for training campas he returns from a torn MCL and PCL.

"I'm going to be ready," Bell said of training camp, while attending a business retreat Saturday organized by his agent, Adisa Bakari. "The biggest thing for me is getting mentally ready for getting hit and things like that, and I don't think I'll really get tackled until a preseason game or maybe in the regular season. I don't think I'll actually hit the ground or get tackled. But when that does happen, I'll be ready for it. But cutting, running routes, picking them and putting them on my feet, everything is back to normal." Bell said overall the rehab process went "great." But there were tough times, particularly early on.

"It's crazy because, in November when it happened, I never realize I'd be back at this point," Bell said. "I remember it was times when I couldn't walk up the steps, walk down the steps, really couldn't sit down by myself, even go to the restroom. I'm just thinking now I'm right back to form how I was when I left. Obviously, it's more of a mental thing for me now. I know my knee is strong enough now. I know it's probably stronger than it ever was, my legs are."

Bell is entering the final season of his rookie contract.

Bell said he's confident the contract situation won't be an issue and his goal is to remain with Pittsburgh.

"I'm not a real greedy guy. I don't play football just for money or things like that," Bell said. "I just want to be valued. Wherever it is -- whether its $15 million or lower or higher, whatever it is - I think we will get to an agreement eventually. "Obviously, I want to be a Steeler for my whole life. My family grew up Pittsburgh Steelers fans, and it's crazy I even got drafted there. So I want to be with them and hopefully we'll reach an agreement. But that will take place once that time come."